Abe's PoV

I waited in the study, it wasn't long before Ben walked in with a male with a cane dressed in a suit.  "So this must be the famous Wayne Manor.  I'm glad I finally get to see it."

"Damian Nygma" I said standing and offering my hand to him. "It's been a long time"

"It really has" he said shaking my hand before sitting down across form me. He had his cane resting next to him. "So" he started "Detective Abe Wayne.  Going down the Jim Gordan Path?"

Right away into the tricky questions, sometimes I really did forget who his father was.  This was not one of them.  "Not exactly, but crime does need to be stopped."

"Crime is a part of the lifeblood of Gotham, a necessary ingredient.  What does need to be stooped, is this vigilantly business"

He's trying to trick you Abe, stay calm.  "I would take note it has hurt our credibility, but so wouldn't a mayor that makes deals with killers."  It was a real risk to bring this up, I needed Damien on my side if this was ever going to work.  With one line I could have just ruined everything.

Damian shifted, placing a hand on his cane.  He took a long breath.  "I know what I saw I just don't want to believe that I really saw it.  He was my friend Abe"

His words felt like salt in the wound. Will was my friend too, but I did my best to keep my expression neutral.  "There are a lot of things we don't want to believe, but they are true" His grip on the cane tightened, I could tell he was uncomfortable.  I pushed on. "Now tell me what happened that night."

Damian sighed, "I arrived at the carnival around eight, I felt drawn ti it somehow.  I walked around until I found myself wondering into a tent where it looked like a show was going to start.  I sat in the back.  It started normal enough, like an interview.  But when Strange wouldn't play along, Wilford took out a knife and stabbed him.  Everyone thought it was a joke, but when I went up to talk to him, a few people were carrying away the body out the back of the tent."

I nodded, it would seem this is the first time Damian had told this story. "Would you agree to testify?"

"Abe, if I do I could be in a whole lot of trouble"

"Damian, you're my only hope"

"So what if I did? What would I get from this?" Damian was much calmer now, I could almost see the smirk on his face. This was not what I had hopped, maybe I did tip my cards a little too early.  He must have been able to hear my desperation.

I took a breath, hiding it in a laugh as I shifted in my seat. "What would you like?"

He was really smiling by now, "an endorsement"

"An endorsement?"

"You're a real voice of hope in this city, I think it would really help my campaign"

"So you agree to testify against Will, and I'll help you with your campaign" I held out my hand.  "We got a deal?"

Damian smiled "Deal" he shook my hand.  Finally I had my case.